Reasons to Join C.A.D.

Why Become a Member of the Community Alliance for Diversity?

For some people, Linn and Benton Counties are great places to live - beautiful setting; access to LBCC and OSU; proximity to the coast, mountains, and Portland; and lots of community celebrations and family activities. There are many folks, however, who find our community less than welcoming. They are discriminated against because of their race, culture, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, and physical and mental abilities. They often leave the area to find a place that feels more inclusive, or sometimes choose not to even come here, despite school or job opportunities. We all lose when people from diverse backgrounds choose not to join or stay in our community - socially, educationally, and economically. The Community Alliance for Diversity (CAD) believes that our community should offer a safe and supportive home to everyone who might wish to live here. CAD’s presence is an important symbol of the commitment of the community to honor diversity. We offer many programs and resources that provide support for diverse people and that educate us all about local discrimination problems and how to solve them.

As a member of CAD, you will be a supporter of the many effective ways in which we are making our community truly welcoming and inclusive for all:

Monitoring of Discrimination Incidents.
CAD maintains a data base on local discrimination incidents. We provide a place for people to report their experiences and receive support and guidance. This information is regularly shared with City and County Officials, Business Associations, and local organizations. This helps keep them informed of issues and concerns in the community and provides an opportunity for them to join us in actively working to resolve these problems.
Diversity Training for Businesses.
Because there are incidents that people report regarding service they receive in local businesses, CAD has begun offering free diversity training sessions to help these businesses learn how to provide better service to people from diverse backgrounds..
Educational Programs: Study Circles.
CAD has engaged over 250 community members in discussions on race relations; diversity; police and citizen’s relationships; youth issues; and responding to Sept. 11th, through our Study Circles Program. The Study Circles Program is offered community-wide but has also been applied to address specific issues, such as one recently held between the Albany Police and the Albany Hispanic Community, called "Police and Residents Building Relationships to Work Together".
Citizen Action Groups.
Following the completion of a round of Study Circles, the participants turn their productive conversations into community projects by joining action groups which work locally on a wide range of issues, including eliminating discrimination within the schools, local government, and businesses.
Educational Programs: Community Forums.
CAD has provided Community Forums to hundreds of citizens on a range of diversity issues including: literature and crimes perpetrated by hate groups; finding common ground in observing patriotism; discrimination resulting from the events of Sept. 11; and gay-youth issues.
Working with Local Government to Improve Polices and Representation.
CAD was instrumental in achieving the establishment of a cultural competency requirement for Benton County employees and also doubled the number of people of color serving on City of Corvallis Commissions.
Community Awareness: Working with Local Media.
CAD provides diversity columns in the Corvallis Gazette-Times and has also worked with the editor to improve local media coverage of people with diverse backgrounds. The diversity columns share personal stories of discrimination, such as a parent talking about their fears for their gay child or an advocate of people with disabilities talking about the ridicule and harassment experienced by someone with cognitive disabilities.
A Website with Many Resources
CAD provides a website that includes an area-wide Diversity Calendar; links to community organizations that serve diverse people; and a list of diversity speakers and trainers.
Community Awareness: Book and Video Lending Library
CAD maintains a book and video lending library on a wide range of diversity topics that is available to all community members.
Community Awareness: Diversity Celebrations
CAD produces and sponsors a large number of wonderful local diversity lectures, performances, and celebrations. These include a Summer 2003 Multicultural Festival "A Taste of Corvallis"; the 2001, 2002 and 2003 La Fiesta De Nuestra Comunidad; the 2001 Portland Taiko Drummers Performance at LBCC; the 2002 and 2003 Tribes Project at OSU; the 2002 Montessori Children’s Program to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; the 2002 Alternative Prom for the High School’s Gay/Straight Alliance; the 2002 Mystical Arts of Tibet Program at LBCC and OSU; the 2003 Oregon Students of Color Conference; the 2003 OSU Holocaust Memorial Program; the 2003 Women of Achievement Awards; the 2003 Community Outreach’s Local Vocals/Local Feet; and the 2003 Race Unity Picnic.
Support for Community Organizations
CAD also achieves its goals by supporting the work of other community organizations that address discrimination issues. To this end, the CAD Executive Director serves on the Hispanic Advisory Committee; the OSU Women’s Center Advisory Committee; and the OSU Community Relations Project - Law Enforcement/Public Safety Subgroup. The Executive Director also assists, and attends meetings of, NAACP and PFLAG.

We encourage all people interested in making the Linn-Benton area a more welcoming community to support CAD’s efforts. You can do this by supporting us with funding or your time and by becoming a member of CAD. Please join us today to make our community a place where everyone has the opportunity to be a part of the life we value here.